Chef Nae Ogawa
Chef At Home in Honolulu
Get to know me better
As a private chef, I create highly personalized dining experiences rooted in technique, culture, and respect for the environment.
I was born in Tokyo, Japan, and my culinary journey has taken me across some of the world’s leading food capitals. After graduating from a professional culinary school in Tokyo, I trained at NARISAWA, where I developed a deep respect for nature driven gastronomy. At 21, I moved to the United States, gaining experience in New York and Paris before settling in Hawaii in 2017.
I was an Executive Chef of restaurants in Honolulu and Tokyo, blending Japanese, French, and Hawaiian culinary philosophies with a strong focus on sustainability and seasonality.
In 2019, I received three honors at Japan’s national culinary competition RED U-35, and I have been awarded the Hale Aina Awards for four consecutive years since 2022. In 2024, I was named a Semifinalist for the James Beard Awards.
More about me
For me, cooking is...
Cooking, for me, is a way to connect people with nature, culture, and place.
I learned to cook at...
Culinary school graduate in Tokyo Trained at NARISAWA Worked in New York and Paris Relocated to Hawaii Excective chef in Honolulu and Tokyo
A cooking secret...
I value connections with local producers and create dishes using as many local ingredients as possible.
Book your experience with Chef Nae
Specify the details of your requests and the chef will send you a custom menu just for you.
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